New Delhi: Audi has launched the SQ8 at Rs 1.78 crore (introductory, ex-showroom), and the new trim sits between the standard Q8 and the top-of-the-line RS Q8. It comes with a 4-litre twin-turbo V8 from the RS Q8, which has been tuned down a little to make it produce 507 bhp. Bookings are now open for the SQ8.

Coming at Rs 1.78 crore, it sits at a premium of Rs 65 lakh than the standard trim, whilst being Rs 56 lakh cheaper than the RS Q8. The SQ8 will be competing with the Porsche Cayenne GTS and the Mercedes-AMG GLE Coupe.

Audi SQ8 powertrain

Audi SQ8 gets a 4-litre V8

Audi uses the same RS Q8’s 4-litre twin-turbo V8 engine, but here it makes 507 bhp and 770 Nm of torque, which is 133 bhp and 80 Nm less than the RS model. The engine is paired with an eight-speed automatic gearbox that sends power to all four wheels (AWD). The SQ8 does a 0-100 kph in 4.1 seconds and is electronically limited to 250 kph. 

It comes with hardware like air suspension, a rear axle sport differential, rear axle steering, and active roll stabilisation, to make it more fun to drive. 

Audi SQ8 exterior, interior design and features

Audi SQ8 exterior design

The Audi SQ8 comes with the familiar silhouette of the Q8, but it comes with Matrix LED headlights as standard and bigger functional air intakes on both sides of the bumper. It also gets headlight washers and silver surrounds on the grille and air intakes on the bumper. The SQ8 gets 21-inch rims as standard and, for an added cost, can be upgraded to 22 inches, and comes with a chrome surround on the window for a contrast element.

The back gets connected OLED tail-light setup, roof-mounted spoiler and black SQ8 badge on the tailgate. The back bumper comes with a silver trim, aggressive looking diffuser, and quad-tip exhaust outlets.

Step inside, and the SQ8 gets an all-black theme with design elements similar to the standard Q8. It comes with physical controls and an ‘S’ badge, a 12.3-inch driver’s display, a 10.1-inch touchscreen infotainment system and another 8.6-inch touchscreen for operating the 4-zone climate control. It comes with a gloss-black strip on the centre of the dashboard. The seats get leatherette upholstery and have ‘S’ badges on the headrests as well. 

Feature lists include a 17-speaker Bang & Olufsen audio system, soft-close doors, a wireless phone charger, a panoramic sunroof, a powered tailgate and powered front seats with memory function. In terms of safety, it comes with 8 airbags, a 360-degree camera with blind spot monitor, a tyre pressure monitoring system (TPMS), disc brakes on all wheels, and a Level 2 ADAS suite.